Microcrystalline Cellulose of Oil Bean Pod: Extraction, Physico-chemical, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and Flow-ability Analysis

Oil bean pods (OBPs) are a biomass that are indiscriminately dumped in eastern Nigeria, thus causes a lot of pollution. In this study, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was isolated from oil bean pods using acid hydrolysis, and several characterizations were performed using a variety of sophisticated techniques. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis has indicated the removal of lignin and hemicellulose from MCC extracted from oil bean pods. Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) revealed a rough surface and minor agglomeration of the MCC. Furthermore, the isolated MCC has slightly higher inorganic minerals than the raw oil bean pod on the basis of SEM-EDX and the ash content. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis reveals that the specific surface area of MCC is 331.94 m2/g, which is greater than that of OBP, with 164.728 m2/g. Other characteristics like pore volume, and average pore diameter or size demonstrate that MCC has a superior property than the raw OBP. This implies that MCC could serve as a better adsorbent than the raw OBP. As a result of the increased surface area and high percentage of MCC, which is associated to chemical treatment of raw OBP, MCC can be used in environmental remediation of heavy metals. The bulk density of MCC was recorded at 0.447, which is slightly above the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) specification of 0.32, and the tapped density was recorded at 0.532. The flow ability of MCC powder determines its suitability as a direct compression binder. Thus, the isolated MCC might be used as a reinforcing element for the production of green composites, binder, adsorbents, and plastic polymers.